The iconic megaliths of Stonehenge have been recreated in central London ahead of the Summer Solstice on Wednesday evening.
Citihenge is a giant sculpture made from scrap cars and, unlike its neolithic name-sake, it is surrounded by urban landmarks rather than rural tranquility.
Each of the six, three-car henges is five metres wide and more than five metres high, and the whole thing weighs 36 tonnes.
It was designed by sculptor Tommy Gun over a three-month period.
He said: "It is made entirely from old car parts, which taps into my own childhood growing up on a farm where I used to love building and creating things with pieces of discarded machinery."
Citihenge will remain in London for two days before touring the UK, appearing at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex from June 28 to July 1.
Source: www.itn.co.uk
London trader and wife jailed for insider dealing - Reuters UK
LONDON |
LONDON (Reuters) - A British trader and his wife who helped fund a lavish lifestyle from illegal share dealing, were jailed on Wednesday in a landmark case pursued by prosecutors on both sides of the Atlantic.
James Sanders, who owned and was a director of now-defunct brokerage Blue Index, his wife Miranda and James Swallow, a Blue Index co-director, had last month pleaded guilty to a combined 18 counts of insider dealing between October 2006 and February 2008.
James Sanders, dubbed by Judge Peregrine Simon as "the driving force behind the criminality", was jailed for a record four years. Miranda Sanders - who was tipped off about imminent U.S. takeovers by her sister in America - was jailed for 10 months, as was Swallow.
The striking, sharply-dressed couple, who are both in their mid thirties and have two young children, saw their sentences cut by 25 percent after pleading guilty, although James initially argued his trades were legitimate stock picks.
They held hands while judge Peregrine Simon read out the case against them and kissed after sentencing. Miranda turned to smile and nod encouragingly at a woman in the court room's public gallery, who burst into tears on sentencing.
The Financial Services Authority (FSA), which brought the UK prosecution, said the three scooped almost 2.0 million pounds in profits from illegal share dealings, while Blue Index clients made around 10.2 million - a precursor to the Sanders' couple selling the business for around 8.0 million.
The FSA, which only started prosecuting notoriously tricky insider dealing cases in 2007 after being criticised for its "light touch" approach to regulation, had pushed for three custodial sentences despite the couple's young family.
"This was a case of systematic abuse by approved people of their privileged position in the market - we are determined to stamp out such abuse," said Tracey McDermott, acting head of enforcement at the Financial Services Authority (FSA).
"No doubt as they prepare to spend their first night behind bars, they will be reflecting on the consequences of their greed. Others, who might be tempted to do the same, should be in no doubt about our continued commitment to use all of the tools at our disposal to tackle those who abuse the market."
NAILED
The FSA was first alerted to possible insider dealing after spotting unusually heavy trade in U.S.-listed staffing services company Kronos ahead of its takeover by private equity house Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners in 2007.
Calling on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), its U.S. peer, the regulator eventually pieced together the links between the Sanders couple and Miranda's San Francisco-based sister and brother-in-law, an M&A partner at accountancy firm Deloitte, "Annie and Arnie" McClellan.
In a tortuous case that involved trawling through 26 million emails and 800,000 phone calls recorded on Blue Index's office lines, regulators focused on dealings in five takeover targets: Kronos, Per Se, aQuantive, ChoicePoint and Getty Images.
McDermott told a journalist briefing there were "whoops of joy" in the FSA's offices when in one recorded telephone call, James Sanders' father Tim asks: "Is this not insider dealing?" James answers: "No, not really. Well ...". When his father laughs and says: "Try proving it", James says: "Yes, exactly".
A consummate trader, James Sanders told a newspaper in 2008 his mantra was: "Buy at the point of maximum fear" after snapping up a 5 million pound property in London's exclusive Kensington district for a 22 percent discount at the height of the credit crunch.
The FSA found what they called his "life plan" in his kitchen, in which he documented his plans to pay off his mortgages and luxury cars and resign from Blue Index by placing one 200,000 pound tip a year.
In a scribbled account, he put aside 100,000 pounds for a "car fund" and 50,000 for a watch, clothes, holidays and wine.
Blue Index was a specialist brokerage of contracts for differences (CFD), a tax-efficient trade that allows dealers to speculate on short-term price fluctuations of assets such as stocks by buying a percentage of their value, or "margin".
The FSA said the insider in the case was Miranda's brother-in-law Arnold McClellan, a senior partner at the San Francisco branch of Deloitte. It said Miranda's sister Annabel or Arnold leaked privileged, price-sensitive information to the British couple about U.S. securities listed in New York.
James Sanders then disclosed information to James Swallow and encouraged Blue Index clients to trade in those stocks.
Annabel McClellan has already been jailed for 11 months without parole and fined $1.0 million after being pursued by the SEC, Department of Justice (DoJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). No charges were brought against Arnold, who has now retired.
James Sanders, meanwhile, has been forced to park the Ferrari and has been disqualified as a director for five years. The court will decide on confiscation orders at a later date.
The FSA, which said it spent "millions" on pursuing the Blue Index case, is prosecuting 11 others for insider dealing - an offence that carries a maximum jail term of 7 years in the UK.
"This case really does demonstrate the FSA's determination to deliver criminal prosecutions for insider dealing," said Tim Dolan, a lawyer at Pinsent Masons.
"While the FSA have still brought relatively few criminal actions, and have not always been successful, results like this should go some way to deterring insider dealing in the future."
(Editing by Douwe Miedema and Jon Loades-Carter)
Source: uk.reuters.com
'Someone's after more money': Katie Price blames ex-husband Alex Reid for deliberating delaying their divorce - Daily Mail
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It looked like Katie Price and Alex Reid's brief marriage was finally over when they were granted a decree nisi in March.
However, the glamour model today complained the final divorce ruling has been delayed because her estranged husband wants more money.
Although a High Court judge initially granted the couple a divorce on the grounds of Reid's 'unreasonable behaviour' in March, they are yet to have it finalised.
Feminine look: Katie Price wears a pink top and orange skirt as she arrives at ITV studios
Following the decision in March, it normally takes between five to six weeks for a divorcing couple to be given a decree absolute.
However, appearing on Loose Women today, Katie bemoaned the fact she was unable to move on properly with new fianc Leandro Penna because she was still wed to Alex.
The 34-year-old said: 'I'm still married.'
She then claimed: 'It would have been quicker, but obviously someone's after more money.'
Holding things up? Alex Reid, pictured outside his Essex home yesterday, has been blamed for delaying the divorce
Katie and Alex famously split in January 2011 after just 11 months of marriage.
The mother-of-three ended up marrying Alex in Las Vegas just nine months after she was dumped by first husband Peter Andre.
On reflection, she concedes she was on the rebound from Peter when she started dating Alex eight weeks later.
Speaking on Radio 4's Woman's Hour today, she admitted: 'The public was right about Alex, I was on the rebound.
Glam: The glamour model is promoting her new novel In The Name Of Love
'Yes, I know I was on the rebound and I'm not rushing into getting married again. Yes, I'm engaged, but I've actually grown-up and thought there's no rush for anything.'
For her appearance on Loose Women, it was quite a surprise to see the former glamour model looking demure in a pink top and flowing orange skirt today.
However, it was only when she turned around, she was given a cheeky flash of bra, which she had co-ordinated with her top.
On Woman's Hour, she praised her 'intelligent' Argentine fianc for learning English, admitting it was difficult when they first started dating.
Pink to make the boys wink: Katie flashed her pink bra in the partially-backless top
She explained: 'I said, "yeah, yeah, I'm gonna learn Spanish" but you just don't. I think, "everyone speaks English, he'll end up speaking English." And he does.'
When Jenni asked if she had tried to learn Spanish, Katie replied: 'I haven't had the time. That's awful isn't it?
'He's made the time and the effort and we can actually have a conversation now. He went to English school and properly learned English. In fact, he speaks it better than me.'
Addressing her split from Peter, she added: 'I never wanted to split from him. Its just unfortunate he thought I was having an affair with my riding instructor.
English lessons: Katie said her Argentine fianc Leandro Penna spoke better English than she did
'He always says "I can never say why", because he knows he's married with his family and if he does say it, we'll all jump on the bandwagon and say, "prove it."
The mother-of-three is currently promoting her new novel In The Name Of Love, which tells the story of a holiday romance between sports presenter Charlie and Spanish Olympian horse-rider Felipe.
The book is her eighth novel and has been ghost-written with author Rebecca Farmsworth.
Speaking about their partnership on Woman's Hour, she said: 'I feel sorry for Rebecca. I speak into the Dictaphone. You've definitely got to have a talent to sit there and write the book and she's amazing at it.
'I come up with the plot and we go through each chapter together.'
I'm here too! Carrie Underwood was also pictured at the ITV studios
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Divorce Rings Are the New Bling: How to Select Jewelry for a New Beginning - Huffington Post
A wedding or engagement ring is the ultimate symbol of love, so what do you do when you want to discard it and move past the relationship that the diamond is tied to? (See under: I'd throw this ring off of a cliff if it wasn't worth so much money).
Keeping emotions in check is key, according to an article by CNN's Liane Yvkoff. Yvkoff stressed that winning the ring is half the battle. In the state of California, a woman has the right to keep the ring if her fiance broke off the engagement. If she breaks the engagement, he can ask for it back. Even once you win ownership, you are at an even tougher crossroads: what to wear instead?
Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives to simply getting rid of it. Here are some ideas:
Sell bad memories for a finer piece of jewelry
Parting can be such sweet sorrow when selling back a wedding or engagement ring that once symbolized true love. It could be argued that no one knows the sentiment of bittersweet selling than engagement ring buyer Eric Smith, who shared his tale of love and loss to GeekOSystem reporter Eric Limer. After buying his girlfriend the dream ring, Smith found out that his girlfriend was cheating on him. Not one to be defeated, he sold it on eBay. In Smith's case, he bought a full-scale suit of armor modeled after Master Chief from Halo, but your purchase doesn't have to be anything even nearly as outlandish.
Of course, not everyone wants to get rid of their ring. For them, recycling might be the best option.
Rock the ring in a different form
Sometimes it's hard to separate yourself from a beautiful piece of jewelry. Rocking the ring on a different finger and being asked about it isn't very appealing, so why not think outside the ring box? By melting the gold or taking the diamond and centering it into a necklace, bracelet, or other piece of jewelry, the old becomes the new without any separation on your part. A jeweler can take components of your ring and do wonders, including making cost effective pendants out of a gold chain with your diamond attached.
For those who want to start from scratch, there are plenty of options for brand new jewelry, including a new trend -- divorce rings.
Turn the old into the new with a divorce ring
Divorce rings might be in vogue right now, but they have actually been around since the 20th century, according to Abazias Diamonds blogger Christina. Divorce rings can take the shape of traditional rings or can be clearly focused on separation. From quality to size, divorce rings vary as much as engagement and wedding rings. Christina shares her experience with the types of divorce rings she has seen:
"Divorce rings vary in style. Some rings, for example, are quite clear about the message they send," Christina said. "They may feature a design that is cut in half -- clearly indicating a recent divorce. Other divorce rings are designed with more of a hopeful message. The materials used in the rings also tend to vary, much like engagement rings. Some, for example, are cast in gold while others feature platinum or silver."
What will you choose?
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
Sellers’ lies, adolescent estate agents, naff hot tubs, and remote controlled garages: Lessons from a househunter in Kent - Daily Mail
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Wanted: one family home, detached period (no low beams), preferably Georgian, within a village setting or rural, quite road, no traffic noise and that is realistically priced … stop there, and there’s the rub – the ‘realistically priced’ tag.
I’m house hunting and getting a little dispirited to say the least. I decided to dedicate the last three weeks to finding a house, moving out of London and into Kent. We know exactly what we want and both of us have owned over the years a number of properties in Kent. We think we know the market a little.
Dealing with the agents is frustrating. There are two types of estate agents – the fly-by-night boys, with their aggressive sales arm with the barrow boy attitude and ill-fitting suits to match who take to using your first name rather than affording you the courtesy of attaching your title and surname and have no interest in your requirements, but to hit their sales targets. Then there is the old-fashioned, courteous, land agent, qualified surveyor, whose company has been around for donkey’s years and survive on their reputation and knowledge. Although, one of the latter-type of agents did call me the other day and asked, 'Perchance, would this be Mrs. Atkinson?' (really!). I am told by the grown-up agents in Kent that there is little stock, but what is on the market is vastly over-priced with sellers having a very over-inflated view of what their properties are worth. Coupled with that their competitors are overvaluing and undercutting fees and this seems to be the norm outside of the London property bubble.
Wanted: one family home, detached period (no low beams), preferably Georgian, within a village setting or rural, quite road, no traffic noise and is realistically priced
I asked the same question to a couple of grown-up agents, why are the properties not selling and why are they over-priced? They both said that vendors are frightened of interest rates rising because they have overstretched themselves financially by borrowing more for new kitchens, cars, holidays and, in some cases, school fees. This confirmed my view and since 2004 I have written extensively about this - the middle-classes are like frightened rabbits waiting for the bubble to burst.
Before I spoke to these two agents I had viewed a number of properties and none of the stories of why the vendors were moving added up. It also seemed very odd that there were very few chains.
Too many were ‘downsizing’, or ‘looking to move into rented accommodation before we decide what we want’ (they all had numerous kids or grannies in tow, so that was an unlikely truth), hence no chains. The truth was that they had spent vast sums on getting the properties to look like a feature from House and Garden or Channel 4’s Grand Designs and had unrealistic ideas about the price tag.
One woman had a son at a grammar school quite a few miles north but had two little ones who attended a very local prep school. Her excuse for moving was that they wanted to be nearer the grammar school. As the boy got the bus and she drove the other two the story was very unlikely.
Overvaluing and undercutting fees seems to be the norm outside of the London property bubble
No, she just wanted someone to pay her inflated price so that she could cash in on what she thought was a continuing property boom and she could ‘downsize’ on others' willingness to pay the price. It won’t happen.
Some have annexes or small detached cottages. Usually they have installed the granny who has sold her own home to move in with the offspring. The reality is that it is cheaper than a nursing home and the kids can get their hands on the inherited cash quicker and avoiding capital gains tax.
The grannies were all a bit bewildered as I am sure they all thought they would be, living in the annexes until their demise. Not so. The other problem for us was that our teenage children might want to move back in or elderly relatives might come to stay for the weekend and not leave. My husband shies away from annexes.
Many looked like the interiors of five star hotels with mood lighting, fires, music and shutters controlled by remote controls. These controls were by the bed, in the kitchen and sitting rooms, God know what would happen if they lost the damned things, presumably they would be forced to live in darkness with the piped music forever set on Robbie Williams? The carpets were so rich, cream and deep piled that levitation was the best option so as not to spoil them. If the bedroom furniture was fitted it had been ordered from the back of the up-market Sunday supplements and truly horrid. Three had installed hot tubs and when I asked would they be taking them with them I was met with pitying looks that said why didn’t I want to spend my time getting wrinkly in a smelly tub and feeling sick with the jet propelled bubble system. And it’s very naff.
One agent had sneaked in an extra viewing on a very delightful 16thc low-beamed cottage. I said no low beams. Again the cottage had been ‘Farrow and Balled’ in every room with mushroom deep pile carpets galore. My husband is 6’ 1” and would bang his head ten times a day and develop a hump but the owner gaily said oh, my husband’s 6’ 3”. I wondered whether they lived in separate houses or had bashed his head so many times that he was gaga.
Then there are the descriptions. One had described the house as ‘New England style’. Untrue – it was a sloppily built, timber framed, weather boarded house that were thrown up in north Kent during the 1920s. Several houses had set the dining room or kitchen tables for formal dining, including linen napkins, silver napkin rings, polished glass and silverware. It’s not real life or they have got too much time on their hands.
One barn conversion had a Persil white Range Rover and matching white Porsche outside – very ‘My Fat Gypsy Wedding’ and the owners matched the cars. All very fit, pumped up with black and white photographs of them all around the house. He opened a cupboard that contained a few novels – ‘we don’t like to have our books on display’. Quite – all Jackie Collins and body-pumping stuff, and ‘books create dust’! The house was all black, white, brown, chrome and …. cold. Think boutique hotel, very clinical and spotless. His pride and joy was the gym which was better fitted than my local David Lloyd, again with matching pictures of pumped and primped him and her. I left him saying ‘...and the garage can get me Bentley in too, no trouble love’. Another one bites the dust.
Many have spent vast sums on getting the properties to look like a feature from House and Garden or Channel 4's Grand Designs and had unrealistic ideas about the price tag
Then there are the retiring couples in their 70s who genuinely want to downsize. And if they were just doing that, there wouldn’t be a problem. Two openly admitted that they would be using some of the money to give to their thirty year old children ‘to help them out’. Again, the purchaser is expected to fund the lifestyles of the kids that are in debt or just haven’t made it yet. And this attitude is partly fuelling the over-priced property boom in London.
Some are marketed as having lakes (or very big, man-made ponds) in the garden. Some have little Japanese bridges over them (naff) and large Japanese koi and sturgeon (equally naff). They are horrid, the great things come up to the surface opening their wide, silent, toothless jaws and it’s all very eerie and clinical. I like the idea of water with fishes and lily pads and frogs. But unfortunately my husband thinks that fish comes in 4 ways ... in batter, as sashimi, in a pie or in a tank.
I do wonder at these grand design projects. Looking at the cream carpets I thought about my naughty Burmese cats bringing in the local wildlife and depositing blood and guts over all that cream.
We currently rent in London and are looking to move back out to Kent within a few miles of either Ebbsfleet or Ashford International stations so if you know of a property that is detached, period (no low beams), preferably Georgian, within a village setting, quite road, no traffic noise and is realistically priced, get in touch, even if you’ve got cream carpets or hot tubs.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
London 2012: Man charged with Olympic ticket fraud - BBC News
A 44-year old man from Catford in London has been charged with two counts of fraud over the sale of Olympic tickets, Scotland Yard has said.
Christakis Ioannou will also face charges of money laundering and the illegal sale of Olympic tickets when he appears at West London Magistrates' Court on 4 July.
Meanwhile a 39-year old man has been arrested on suspicion of the unauthorised sale of Olympic tickets.
He is in custody in Leicester.
That arrest was made on Tuesday morning by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Operation Podium - its team investigating ticket fraud and touting connected to the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
It was a result of ongoing enquiries into the unauthorised sale of Olympic and Paralympic tickets as part of a corporate hospitality package, Scotland Yard added.
A search warrant was executed at a business address in central Leicester.
The Operation Podium team also work to combat scams involving non-existent hotel rooms and companies being duped into buying luxury goods which never turn up.
As of 14 June, 186 people have been arrested by officers working for the operation.
In March, eight people were charged in connection with a £2.3m fraud against the Olympic Delivery Authority.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Vladimir Putin to attend London Olympics - Daily Telegraph
The visit would be Putin's first UK trip since he attended the G8 summit in Gleneagles in 2005.
Putin was invited on a state visit to Britain by Tony Blair in 2003, but relations between the two countries have soured since the 2006 murder of Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian spy who died from poisoning by radioactive polonium. Many of Putin's foes have also received asylum in Great Britain.
Russia has refused to extradite Andrei Lugovoy, an ex-KGB bodyguard Britain wants to prosecute for Litvinenko's murder. The incident sent ties between the countries plunging to a post-Cold War low and led to tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions.
A number of British politicians including former Europe minister Denis MacShane have said Putin should not be welcome at the Olympic Games because of human rights abuses in Russia.
Mr Cameron visited Moscow last year, ending a four-year period during which Putin has had no high-level contact with British officials. On Monday, Mr Cameron had to wait for Mr Putin who was late after an extended meeting with US President Barack Obama.
"The Prime Minister kindly agreed to wait and used the pause to work with documents," Mr Peskov said. He said the two leaders exchanged jokes about euro 2012.
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Try Ascot - in London - The Sun
A London restaurant is running its very own day at the races on Sunday June 23.
The Plough Bar and Kitchen in Clapham, will show all the races on a big screen, from 2.30-5.30pm
So dust off your best suit, fasten your fascinators and jockey for a prime position to watch the dramatic climax, the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, through a pair of Veuve Clicquot sunglasses - free with every bottle of bubbly bought.
Call 020 7585 1844, email ploughevents@youngs.co.uk, or see theploughstjohnshill.co.uk.
ADD mystery to a camping trip by booking one of the new Wild Comfort mobile camping sites in Devon – whose locations are kept secret.
The luxury sites pop up at various locations in the South Hams and exact addresses are only given when booking.
But they are all close to beaches and rivers, the wilds of Dartmoor and the charming towns of Totnes, Kingsbridge, Dartmouth and Salcombe.
They are made up of five sleeping tents, one living room tent, kitchen and hot showers – and you can ask for the kitchen to be stocked on arrival. Prices are from £650 for eight people for one week with short breaks also available from £500. See oneoffplaces.co.uk.
BRITS driving abroad show a worrying lack of regard for road safety.
Twenty-seven per cent are less concerned about breaking speed limits, and 18 per cent take drink-driving less seriously than at home, according to an AXA poll.
And only 49 per cent slap a GB sticker on their vehicle abroad, even though it is required.
IF you need vaccines when abroad. it pays to shop around for the best deal.
There were some large differences in prices at clinics nationwide, when
the appointment and administration fees were added in, research by Airport Parking & Hotels (APH.com) found.
Across the seven clinics surveyed, Doctor Today was the dearest – charging £105 for the cholera inoculation and £63 for rabies.
In contrast, Well-Travelled Clinics charges £30.95 and £61.99 respectively.
The Hospital for Tropical Diseases had the cheapest rabies vaccine of those polled, at just £42.
For a full list of costs see aph.com/travelvaccines.
VISITORS to London will soon be able to get wi-fi while on the Tube.
London Underground have teamed up with Virgin Media to get 120 stations connected by the end of the year.
The first batch of stations are set to get online in July and include Oxford Circus, Camden Town, London Bridge and King’s Cross.
DESPITE the best efforts of the various UK tourist boards this year, it seems as though the days of the staycation could be over.
Research by M&S Money reveals staying in the UK can be 25 per cent more expensive than going abroad.
The cost of a week in London, for those wanting to celebrate the Jubilee and the Olympics in the capital, will set Brits back £1,631, compared with an average £1,298 for a sunny holiday overseas.
Stats from online travel agent On The Beach back up the findings – they have seen a massive increase in bookings for this summer with Spain again leading the way.
Tenerife topped the list of destinations with a year-on-year boost in bookings of 60 per cent, closely followed by Majorca which has increased by 90 per cent.
With hoteliers in Greece slashing prices by some 15 per cent and the low rate of the euro, bookings to the crisis-torn country have risen by 55 per cent. Alistair Daly, marketing director at On The Beach said: “With Britain focusing on the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympics the UK will be saturated with tourists.
“Our data shows that Brits have chosen to avoid these crowds and take advantage of the reduction on family holidays and guarantee themselves a bit of sun.
“Staycations have taken a back seat in 2012.”
A NEW travel tribe is on the rise – OATs, or Old Age Travellers.
Gatwick Airport polled 1,000 travellers over the age of 70 and found 56 per cent were travelling more now than they did when they were younger.
The airport has now launched a search to find Britain’s oldest traveller.
If you think that’s you, or want to nominate someone, email proof of date of birth, a photo and a line about a favourite travel experience to ukoldesttraveller@gatwick-airport.com before June 29.
Source: www.thesun.co.uk
Yes here comes Katie, Alex and Chantelle have just had their baby, and here comes Katie
- Jesse, Round and about, 20/6/2012 16:03
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